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The number of players betting with licensed operators in Malta reached a new record in the first half of 2022. The amount of active players in Malta increased by 8.7% year-on-year after a drop in 2021 to 19.3 million. This surpassed the previous record of 19 million seen in the last six months of 2020.

The increase was mainly due to the creation of a record 8.9 million new accounts. Much of the growth was due to the number of young players, with the share of punters aged between 18 and 24 rising to almost 25% of the total base.

Furthermore, the gaming sector in Malta contributed €573 million in gross value added in the half year, or 8.0% of the Maltese economy. It was a 12.4% increase compared to 2021. The sector also employed 10,861 people by June 2022, almost 600 more than the previous year.

“The resilience of the gaming sector in Malta during these challenging times is primarily attributable to its ability to remain flexible and adapt to change, whilst being supported by the MGA’s ongoing efforts to ensure Malta is a competitive and reputable jurisdiction,” said the MGA in statement.

Revenues by license types in Malta

While the MGA did not provide a revenue total, it did note the percentage that came from each game type. Type 1 licenses, which cover online casino games and similar products, reached a new record as a percentage of overall revenue, 71.5%. Of that total, 79.8% – or 57.1% of total overall revenue – came from slots.

On the other hand, the revenue share of type 2 licenses, which cover sports betting, dropped to 21.3%. Type 3 licenses, which cover peer-to-peer betting, including poker and betting exchanges, remained flat at 7.1% of revenue.